Off Topic Sport Other than Football - formerly the Ashes Thread

Well, I backed it each way. And Noble Yeats.
Broke even overall

 

For those of you watching in black and white, the orange powder is near the red balls

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Bairstow comes back into the Test squad after injury in place of Foakes.
I’ve no problem with Bairstow returning if he’s fit - he’s one of the best players in the world- but it’s harsh on Foakes, who is the best keeper.
It seems that England want to pack the middle order with batsmen who can take the game away from teams in 30-40 overs, rather than pick the best keeper.
I thought it was likely he would return for Crawley, but that would have involved further tinkering in finding another opener.
Hopefully, Bairstow will repeat his feats from last summer and smash the Aussies everywhere.

 

It's certainly a risk and very tough on Foakes who has been very consistent - and more adaptable to different playing scenarios than most of his colleagues.
More worrying is the latest setback for Archer. It's starting to look like it might be a career ending injury, which would be a real.shame.

 

I don’t think we’ll see Archer as a Test bowler again. Can’t see him being fit to bowl 15-20 overs in a day.
England still have Wood if pace is required. But in English conditions you can’t go wrong with Anderson, Broad & Robinson

 

Victor Wembanyama is signing for Spurs? Really?

 

Especially as Foakes batting is actually very useful, particularly as a foil for one of the dashers

 

Ow.

 

As opposed to the How The **** Was That Not A Knockout Of The Year Contender, which has been the same since 2009

Trust me, you need audio for this one...

 

There are rumours that Stokes may not be fit to bowl, in which case they will have to make room for an extra bowler, so dropping Foakes and giving the gloves to Bairstow may solve that problem. The openers are dodgy to say the least, maybe there is a case for sending Stokes into open allowing Bairstow in at 6 and then 5 bowlers.

Crawley / Duckett
Stokes
Pope
Root
Brook
Bairstow (wk)
Broad / Woakes
Robinson / Potts
Wood
Leach
Anderson

We really need Stokes fit to bowl and to be the 4th seamer because that is a long tail.

 

20 years ago today Jimmy Anderson took 5 wickets in a Test match
Not much changes

 

Well that's just ****ing grim

 

Can England surpass Ireland’s 172 and lead tonight?
This is Bazball. 6 an over is standard

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Jack Leach out of the Ashes due to a stress fracture in his back , bollox

 

Maybe Moeen Ali can be persuaded to come out of retirement for five Tests?

 

His back bollocks are fractured? That sounds painful and unusual.

 

FAHKEN BOOLSHET